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Brain Implants Relieve Alzheimer's Damage
Genetically engineered cells implanted in mice have cleared away toxic plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease. The animals were sickened with a human gene that caused them to develop, at an accelerated rate, the disease that robs millions of elderly people of their memories. After receiving the doctored cells, the brain-muddling plaques melted away. If this works in humans, old age could be a much happier time of life.
Sometimes Alzheimer works as a coping mechanism. When they are in a nursing home, is it beneficial to there sanity to remember how yesterday was exactly the same as today? It helps them forget how miserable there life is and it makes every day as interesting as the last. They are always making new friends. They always have a "new" story to tell when someone comes to visit (even if they have heard it a million times). The visitors have someone that they can talk to because they won't remember it the next day anyways. It's like having a crazy old therapist!
Maybe we should consider all aspects before we go and play god. Do we really know what's best for the elderly?